This is a super HELPFUL piece! I absolutely love it.
BUT. My pushback:
The last section on male/female/sexuality - Your supposed Anabaptist response is rooted in historic anabaptist reading of ... queer theory?? Eh?!? Did I miss something...theological somewhere??
You're going to get us local church pastors, boots-on-the-ground types KILLED. Centering queer theory/post structuralism and whatnot makes this piece impossible to pass to DEE friends in my congregation. I've read you a number of times on this, the queer theory and etc obv has great value to you but your posts and writings are so full of implications, innuendos even, I can only guess at the philosophy/theory behind it. And I'm *a bit* more well-read than my congregants. The bridge you offer from this philosophical background to a true DEE congregant cannot span the chasm!
IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE TO REWORD THIS TO CENTER HISTORIC, ANABAPTIST VIEWS/PRACTICES OF MARRIAGE/CHURCH LIFE/HEADSHIP/EQUALITY??
There are absolutely zero mennonites in rural Minnesota, ie historically anabaptists (but obv coopted by DEE), who would ever imagine framing the discussion this way. Please give me resources from within anabaptism!
I would nuance some of these differently but I love the core argument. It lines up with my own theological training (primarily Missional theology à la Newbigin and Christopher Wright) and I see the relevance for working with marginalized people like native Canadians (my primary ministry milieu). Distinguishing between how God works in the church and how he works in the world addresses so many problematic Christendom ideas and behaviours.
This is a super HELPFUL piece! I absolutely love it.
BUT. My pushback:
The last section on male/female/sexuality - Your supposed Anabaptist response is rooted in historic anabaptist reading of ... queer theory?? Eh?!? Did I miss something...theological somewhere??
You're going to get us local church pastors, boots-on-the-ground types KILLED. Centering queer theory/post structuralism and whatnot makes this piece impossible to pass to DEE friends in my congregation. I've read you a number of times on this, the queer theory and etc obv has great value to you but your posts and writings are so full of implications, innuendos even, I can only guess at the philosophy/theory behind it. And I'm *a bit* more well-read than my congregants. The bridge you offer from this philosophical background to a true DEE congregant cannot span the chasm!
IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE TO REWORD THIS TO CENTER HISTORIC, ANABAPTIST VIEWS/PRACTICES OF MARRIAGE/CHURCH LIFE/HEADSHIP/EQUALITY??
There are absolutely zero mennonites in rural Minnesota, ie historically anabaptists (but obv coopted by DEE), who would ever imagine framing the discussion this way. Please give me resources from within anabaptism!
I would nuance some of these differently but I love the core argument. It lines up with my own theological training (primarily Missional theology à la Newbigin and Christopher Wright) and I see the relevance for working with marginalized people like native Canadians (my primary ministry milieu). Distinguishing between how God works in the church and how he works in the world addresses so many problematic Christendom ideas and behaviours.